Yes, PCR tests can detect “the COVID virus”

I was asked to write some comments for a fact check article about some of the myths going around about PCR-based testing and whether PCR tests can detect “the COVID Read More ...

Rhinovirus rampant or testing triumphant?

Turns out, this physical distancing thing actually works as advertised. Who would have thought that keeping the things viruses need for their survival – hosts full of cells – far Read More ...

And another thing…on false positives

Sometimes the full story can’t fit into a media article. A lot of words can be said during an interview with a journalist but sometimes it’s just really hard to Read More ...

Yes, PCR tests can detect “the COVID virus”

Posted onAugust 4, 2020September 14, 202055 Comments

I was asked to write some comments for a fact check article about some of the myths going around about PCR-based testing and whether PCR tests can detect “the COVID Read More …

And another thing…on false positives

Posted onJune 29, 2020June 29, 20208 Comments

Sometimes the full story can’t fit into a media article. A lot of words can be said during an interview with a journalist but sometimes it’s just really hard to Read More …

Rhinovirus rampant or testing triumphant?

Posted onJune 27, 2020September 14, 20206 Comments

Turns out, this physical distancing thing actually works as advertised. Who would have thought that keeping the things viruses need for their survival – hosts full of cells – far Read More …

We don’t yet know the origin story for SARS-CoV-2

Posted onMay 4, 2020May 4, 202024 Comments

By Katherine E Arden, PhD & Ian M Mackay, PhD The existence of a coronavirus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was first hinted at by a researcher Read More …

Kits and reagents and viruses

Posted onApril 12, 2020September 29, 202012 Comments

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven use of the words “kit” and “reagent”. I completely feel for you if you still have no real idea of what is meant by these Read More …

COVID-19 cases slow a little in Australia

Posted onMarch 27, 2020March 28, 202014 Comments

Our borders have been shut to non-citizens for about a week and despite being regularly admonished for being terrible at obeying confusing, constantly changing or poorly communicated new rules, the Read More …

COVID-19 is not a virus, but SARS-CoV-2 is

Posted onMarch 21, 2020March 23, 202048 Comments

For about two weeks we lived with, published using, and talked about, a disease-causing virus called the “novel coronavirus”. That name was always going to create problems like, what do Read More …

Politically infectious period

Posted onMarch 20, 2020March 20, 20205 Comments

A senior Australian politician arrived in Australia from the United States (US) carrying a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Many infected travellers are arriving from the US at the moment. He self-reports becoming Read More …

Why does soap work so well on SARS-CoV-2?

Posted onMarch 9, 2020March 9, 202044 Comments

This is a guest post from Prof Palli Thordarson of the Uni of New South Wales. It was previously posted in a Twitter thread and on Facebook and has been Read More …

COVID-19 in Australia

Posted onMarch 9, 2020March 9, 202010 Comments

As the cases begin to build up – but are still pretty low with limited community spread having been detected – now is a good time to start watching where Read More …

Virology Down Under

Facts, data, info, expert opinion and a reasonable, occasionally grumpy, voice on viruses: what they are, how they tick and the illnesses they may cause.

Latest posts...

Yes, PCR tests can detect “the COVID virus”

Rhinovirus rampant or testing triumphant?

And another thing…on false positives

Yes, PCR tests can detect “the COVID virus”

And another thing…on false positives

Rhinovirus rampant or testing triumphant?

We don’t yet know the origin story for SARS-CoV-2

Kits and reagents and viruses

COVID-19 cases slow a little in Australia

COVID-19 is not a virus, but SARS-CoV-2 is

Politically infectious period

Why does soap work so well on SARS-CoV-2?

COVID-19 in Australia